When you meet an elephant up close—close enough to drop a peanut into her trunk—close enough to graze her tongue with your fingers when she opens wide for a treat—and close enough to catch your reflection in her chestnut-brown eye, you may wonder about what she has seen and experienced in her life. I did. And I never expected this moment of connection to touch me so deeply or that it would teach me so much.
We met Lakshmi while visiting Rajasthan, India with family in January 2020. We were told that she, and her inseparable friend Mala had been rescued soon after an Indian court banned elephants from performing in circuses.
Until meeting her, I belonged to the 80% of tourists who have no idea what these sensitive animals are subjected to in the name of entertainment. Many elephants are kept in small spaces, shackled by spiked chains, and have no access to clean, fresh water. They are starved and beaten by their mahouts to break their spirits. While some keepers build a strong emotional relationship through kindness and compassion, most use fear and punishment in order to be obeyed. With the growth in the entertainment and tourism industries, the traditional role of mahout has been filled by inexperienced trainers.
Eighty to one hundred elephants, for example, work at the Amber Fort in Jaipur. They are used like golf-carts to transport tourists up and down the steep slope, often in searing heat, without promise of a drink.
Many are injured, blind, and old. Begging elephants are forced to roam the countryside doing tricks for cash in countries like India and Thailand.
Lakshmi is probably as happy as she can be, given she is still living in captivity. The hotel that procured her from a circus ensures her health and welfare. Her mahouts clearly love her and take good care of her. They feed, bathe, and exercise Lakshmi daily. They even slept with her for a time as she grieved her friend Mala’s passing.
I share this with you today on Elephant Appreciation Day because Lakshmi cannot tell her story, nor can the 15,000-20,000 elephants in captivity worldwide.
They say you don’t know what you don’t know until you know. Now that I know things I didn’t know about these mighty, sensitive beings, my hope is that now that you know what I know, you will share your knowledge with others.
In closing, on this 2026 Elephant Appreciation Day, let’s appreciate these incredible gentle giants for the part they play in the nurturing of the planet we all call home by checking out Wildlife SOS, an organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured or exploited elephants. In addition, I invite you to make a pledge to never ride an elephant.
Be Well, Dear Reader
and
Namasté
❤
